Tag: tradition

Handmade Tales

Prompt: Automation has made it possible to produce so many objects — from bread to shoes — without the intervention of human hands (assuming that pressing a button doesn’t count). What things do you still prefer in their traditional, handmade version?

Furniture. There’s something about handcrafted furniture that never fails to draw me into antique and specialty stores. I’ve already told my partner that when the time comes I want to replace our dressers with solid wood ones from a local store. I’ve also told them I want an Alaskan King mattress, but I think that’s going to be a harder sell.

Plates, bowls, and the like. Specifically stoneware products. I know traditional methods lead to less ‘quality control’ and more room for ‘error’ in things not being perfect, but I don’t mind. It’s human.

Strangely, even when I watch old episodes of Unwrapped I’m always more interested when companies use the old-school methods even if I don’t like the product itself.

Photo by Diana Light on Unsplash

Yackety-Yak: Life Stages

It’s safe to say marriage is considered a major life milestone, right?

Um…yeah? I’d say so. For those who value it, at least.

Right…

Why?

Sometimes I get anxious. Not in the, “I’m having second thoughts“ way or anything. It’s more, “Getting married is a major life mark and I’m suddenly reminded of my own mortality“…

This is…not the direction I thought we were headed in.

I know, right?

I don’t think it’s out of left field though. I mean, your biggest fear is death and while milestones are traditionally great…

-They also traditionally bring us closer to death.

It can be bittersweet.

In many ways, I think it is.

Vasilopita!!!

If you have no idea what the title of this post means then do not fear because the first time I heard it I didn’t either.

Vasilopita is a Greek tradition celebrated on New Year’s Day where a family or group cut a loaf of bread or cake to see who managed to get the single coin baked inside. Whoever has the coin has luck for the whole year.

In my family it’s my step-father who cuts the cake, then everyone selects a piece for themselves. For anyone who isn’t present at the time; we wrap a slice and set it aside.

In 2019 I wasn’t around for the cutting, so a few days later I opened my saved slice and guess what I found…That’s right! I found the coin!

Looking back on 2019 I can truly say there were some not too great moments (which are always going to happen) and there were a lot of really awesome moments: I found a job with an amazing work environment. I’m in a relationship with someone who loves me and trash T.V. I went to New York City for the first time. I went back to Chicago for New Years. I got to experience snow. I met my savings goal for the year. My skin cleared up a lot…It was great.

But 2019 is over and you know what that means? Time for VASILOPITA!!!

This time we waited until my siblings and I were all back together to cut the cake and do you know who won? ME. AGAIN. Reigning champion over here and I was one of the last to pick a slice!

Anyway, I know this is a super late New Year’s post, but here’s to 2020!

P.S. the uproar from my siblings when i found it again was hilarious

Photo by Matt Hoffman on Unsplash